There have been protests in the Maldives after the country’s first democratically-elected president was forced to step down amid unrest. Supporters of former president Mohamed Nasheed have described it as a “coup” backed by his predecessor, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, a charge the authorities deny. The BBC looks at what the crisis means for the Indian Ocean archipelago.

What led to Mr Nasheed’s departure?

Mr Nasheed quit on 7 February, after security officials joined opposition-led protests over the arrest of a senior judge. Mr Nasheed said he was stepping down to prevent “bloodshed”, but has since said he was forced to do so under duress.

Demonstrations had been held regularly since the military detention of Judge Abdulla Mohamed, the chief judge of the criminal court, on 16 January. He was detained – at the request of Mr Nasheed – after ordering the release of an opposition politician, Mohamed Jameel Ahmed.

Mr Jameel, who served in the cabinet of former President Gayoom, was arrested several times after issuing detailed pamphlets accusing Mr Nasheed of undermining Islam by conspiring with Christians and Jews.

Mr Nasheed’s aides said Judge Mohamed was intervening not only in Mr Jameel’s case, but blocking human rights and corruption cases against opposition figures. Critics, however, say Mr Jameel’s arrest should not have occurred in the first place and accuse the former president of acting over-reaching his powers.

Some observers say Mr Nasheed was frustrated after the civil court banned the Judicial Services Commission from investigating several alleged cases of misconduct against the judge, effectively making him invulnerable.

Was former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom behind the resignation?

Continue reading the main story

Politics in the Maldives

Mohamed Nasheed came to power after elections in 2008 ended 30 years of autocratic rule by Maumoon Abdul Gayoom

Mr Nasheed’s Maldivian Democratic Party campaigned for a multiparty system and operated in exile out of Sri Lanka in its early days

Its most famous activist, Mr Nasheed, spent long periods of time in jail while Mr Gayoom was in power

Mr Gayoom eventually gave in to reform, overseeing the writing of a new constitution and democratic elections

As president, Mr Nasheed highlighted the threat of global warming to the low-lying islands

But he faced an opposition-dominated parliament and lost the support of other, pivotal groups

Maldives country profile

Some said Mr Nasheed overstepped his authority, while several organisations, including the Supreme Court and Amnesty International, called for the release of Judge Mohamed.

But while the judge’s detention is seen as the catalyst for Mr Nasheed’s departure, most believe there were other forces at play.

Mr Nasheed and his party allege that the new president, Mohammed Waheed Hassan Manik, was part of a conspiracy with opposition parties – linked to former President Gayoom – to oust him. Mr Gayoom – who ruled for 30 years – handed over the reins in 2008, when he was challenged at the polls.

Mr Nasheed’s supporters claim the agreement was made at a recent meeting the vice-president held with opposition figures. But Mr Waheed, whose leads a small party of his own, has denied the allegations. After his swift elevation to president, he said he intended to create a national unity government, and restore law and order to the country of 330,000 people.

He wished to include Mr Nasheed’s party in his national unity government, he said, but that the offer had been rejected.

One, notably, was Mr Jameel, the man released by Judge Mohamed and at the centre of the crisis, who was brought in as home minister. The second, the new defence minister, is retired colonel Mohamed Nazim, who has also come up against Mr Nasheed, who sacked him in 2009.

Will Mr Nasheed stage a comeback?

Mr Nasheed’s supporters are demanding his reinstatement. Thousands took part in protests on Wednesday in Male, an island stretching little over one mile across. Senior members of the former ruling party were injured in clashes, at least one seriously.

With such a tense situation, it is difficult to predict what is likely to happen in the coming days or weeks. Mr Nasheed has called the new government illegal and looks likely to continue the demonstrations.

The police have reacted with force, and there is video footage of groups of officers beating people on the streets. If the current unrest continues, emergency law might perhaps be imposed.

Meanwhile, an arrest warrant has been issued for Mr Nasheed, although the authorities have yet to enforce it.

If the warrant is withdrawn and the situation settles down, Mr Nasheed will likely lead his party in opposition, with a view to returning to power in polls due to take place in November 2013.

What effect might the crisis have on the tourism industry?

The Maldives is made up of 1,190 islands, of which fewer than 200 are inhabited. Tourists usually arrive at the airport and are quickly whisked away by boat or seaplane to resorts on atolls, tending only to visit Male on day trips.

As such, they are not likely to be affected by the unrest, which has mainly taken place in the capital.

While demonstrations have spread to outer atolls, there have been no protests so far reported on resorts or Male airport island.

In spite of this, the international headlines are likely to have some impact on tourism, the Maldives’ largest industry.

Certain countries, including the UK, have cautioned tourists about travel. There have also been reports of cancellations of holidays.

Any impact on tourism – which accounts for a third of GDP – would further strain the already indebted nation.

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